If your loved one doesn’t accept treatment, be prepared to follow through with the changes you presented. People who struggle with addiction often won’t accept their situation and don’t want to seek treatment. They may not accept the negative effects their behavior has on themselves and others. Many professional interventionists have a preferred intervention style they use.
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You can also think about your loved one and how you know they’ve responded to conflict in the past. It’s not a perfect solution, but it can help you avoid knee-jerk reactions and stay focused on the goal of the intervention. The location could be the home of a participant or the office of the intervention specialist you’re working with, just as how to do an intervention for an alcoholic two examples. An intervention can also be used to help stop a problem before it starts. Children and teenagers can be discouraged from drinking or experimenting with alcohol when their families get together to discuss the dangers of it. This is also an opportunity to teach healthy methods for managing stress and dealing with peer pressure.
- Hiring a professional interventionist can make the steps of an alcohol intervention more manageable and set everyone up for success.
- You may want to take a family member or friend along, if possible.
- The good news is that no matter how severe the problem may seem, most people with AUD can benefit from some form of treatment.
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- Look for a treatment provider that accepts your loved one’s insurance.
- It’s about immediate action based on discussions in the intervention.
- Recovery can take a long time, so you may need ongoing treatment.
It’s important not to threaten a consequence if you’re not prepared to follow through with it. However, you can reach out to the provider for updates and get in touch with your loved one as their program allows. You may be able to send care packages or written letters, which can be especially valuable when in a controlled setting like a treatment program. Expressing support and encouraging your friend or family member can help them continue to make progress in treating their addiction.
How to Do an Intervention for a Family Member
Obviously, if an intervention is not performed, it cannot be effective. In some cases, your loved one with an addiction may not accept the treatment plan. They also may be resentful and accuse you of betrayal or being a hypocrite.
During the rehearsal, you can decide who will speak and when, and who will sit where, and other details. This will help avoid any fumbling around during the real intervention. Having one point of contact for all team members will help you communicate better and stay on track. It can help to learn more about common negative responses, like denial and defensiveness. Harvard Health Publishing shares a guide about dealing with denial in yourself and others. VeryWell Mind offers a similarly useful guide about the concept of defensiveness.
Common mental health conditions that co-occur with AUD are depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma- and stress-related disorders, other substance use disorders, and sleep disorders. Studies show that people who have AUD are more likely to suffer from major depression or anxiety over their lifetime. When addressing drinking problems, it’s important to also seek treatment for any accompanying medical and mental health issues.